AIELLO's COURSES TEACHING PROGRAMS on:

- Course on DRUMS

- PRATICAL COURSE in SOLFEGE and Music Theory (not only for drummers)

- Course on  A GUIDE TO MUSIC LISTENING WHILE PERFORMING (not only for drummers)

- Course on WHAT IS THE GROVE (AND HOW TO REACH IT) (not only for drummers)

- Course on DRUMS COACH

- Course on BANDS COACH

- Course on INSTRUMENTS COACH (not only for drummers)

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The primary aim of the course is to deepen and improve the techniques and the base concepts of various themes of the drums world.

Course on

DRUMS

TEACHING PROGRAM

Some of the topics overlap with other contents, more hints and ideas available also in these programmes:

- PRATICAL COURSE in SOLFEGE and Music Theory (not only for drummers)

- Course on  A GUIDE TO MUSIC LISTENING WHILE PERFORMING (not only for drummers)

- Course on WHAT IS THE GROVE (AND HOW TO REACH IT) (not only for drummers)

- Course on DRUMS COACH

- Course on BANDS COACH

- Course on INSTRUMENTS COACH (not only for drummers)

Speech and preliminary audition also to verify the discipline knowledge level. 

PRESENTATION

The Course

-         Technical, Philosophical, Practical, etc. explanation of the Course.

INTRODUCTION

Time – Sound – Accuracy

-         Using or not the Metronome during the study and the music playing

-         Introduction to the Diaphragmatic Breathing and its great use importance playing music and/or in the music in general. 

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UPPER LIMBS STUDY

SETTING

Timbalistic/Rock and/or Classic/Jazz

-         Sticks handling

-         pressures of each finger on the stick

-         Early movements to align and equilibrate wrists, fingers and arms

-         Some light physical exercises useful for wrists, for the unloading of the weight from upper limbs to sticks, for the approach to the psychophysical agility and/or slowness of study and movements (these concepts are also valid for the lower limbs)

-         Correct posture on seat, pedals and instrument

-         Basic notions on solid bodies’ resonance physics to comprehend and control sound as well as possible

-         Hands and arms settings and related basic exercises

-         “Standard  fulcrum” study

MOVEMENT CONCEPT FOR THE SOUND

and related exercises among which:

-         Hands “free fall ” concept

-         Hands “speedy raising”  concept

-         Alternate hands “fall and raising” (mode 1)

-         Alternate hands “fall and raising” (mode 2)

-         “Condition”  concept for studying the wrist mechanical impulse from his natural equilibrium point

-         “Wide condition” concept for the wrists controlled impulse

-         “First played mode” concept (from the soldiers on horse drum movement…)

-         Hands and arms muscles and basic general control (TIME – SOUND – ACCURACY – FINGERING etc.) development, with the relatives’ techniques for the two principals settings, among which:

-         wristed

-         fingered

-         rebounded with fingers control

-         fingers opening/closing and hand movement, with or not further forearm movement

-         with thumb opening/closing

-         Standard Mode

-         Complete Standard Mode

-         Elevated Standard Mode

-         Finger Control

-         thumb Finger Control

-         etc ...

BETWEEN ONOMATOPOEIDICY AND CANTABILITY

IN RUDIMENTS AND GENERALLY RHYTMIC FIGURATIONS

 and related exercises among which:

Two sounds concept

                                  and related exercises 

Binding of two and more strokes concept

                                 and related exercises

-         Music forms / Music DNA etc…

-         Concept and setting of a Joe Morello (mixed mode 2) international exercise, very useful for control and sound in the various performance speeds

-         Study of some basic dynamics

-         Shifts and basic interpretations on drum

-         Explanation, study, application and dialogues on some other kinds of systems and concepts on setting, fulcra, etc…

Concepts and theories on dynamics in the music

-         Relativity of volumes

-         Dynamics exercises among which:

-         Relativity and importance of the “gesture” to control volume and timbre colour

-         Relativity and importance of handling pressure to control volume and timbre colour

Explanation, study, application and dialogues on some other kinds of systems and concepts on music dynamics  

MOVEMENT CONCEPT FOR ACCENTS EXECUTION 

and related exercises among which:

....+ some VIDEOS)

-         on the two fundamental types of Accents:

-         “Normal “

-         “Sharp and Strong”

-         on the “Portamento Accent “ (by Massimo Aiello)

-         difference between Accents (3 types) and not accent strokes...

Evolution of a vertically thrown object

-         basic notions on solid bodies movements physics in the air to better comprehend limbs and solid bodies themselves evolution and to control as well as possible TIME – SOUND – ACCURACY – FINGERING etc… 

-         various concepts and “expedients” for the study, useful to address and proceed in the best way to learn and develop the accents movements (necessary to be able to play quite fluidly and having a good result) among which:

-         “Arm free fall “ concept

-         Acceleration and return evolution control of a vertically thrown object

-         “Arm free but controlled fall with open hand “ concept with:

·        Followed/accompanied sheet of paper

·        Whip-like movement

·        …water on finger-tips…

·        Etc…

Study (in case) of the various difficulty steps to execute the accents; in order

-         TYPE 1: hand accent with rapid return to +/- 90° up and not (with and without preparation stroke)

-         TYPE 2: hand and forearm accent blocking the hand at “Condition” and not (with and without preparation stroke)

-         TYPE 3*: hand and forearm accent, with or without blocks (with and without preparation stroke)

-         TYPE 4*: hand, forearm and arm accent, with study on complete evolution with or without blocks

*  Points 3 and 4 include also accurate study and application of high level exercises and concept from Enrico Lucchini’s method.

Study of the speed development of movements with all the case’s shrewdnesses

The study of the MOVEMENT CONCEPT FOR ACCENTS EXECUTION  can be recapitulated as follows:

-         Explanation of the For types of stroke, or better basic movements typologies on themselves:

-          Accented down stroke

        (In English on the international didactics: Downstroke)

-          Not accented downstroke

        (In English on the international didactics: Tapstroke)

-          Accent’s preparation stroke

        (In English on the international didactics: Upstroke)

-          Accented stroke with reload for another accent

        (In English on the international didactics: Fullstroke)

-         Proposal of for types of movement and/or themselves evolutions:

-         TYPE 1: hand  

-         TYPE 2: hand (or wrist) and forearm

-         TYPE 3: hand, forearm and shoulder, with short limb movement  

-         TYPE 4: hand, forearm and shoulder, with wide limb movement

-         Shifts and basic interpretations on drum  

-         Study and application of “Portamento Accent”

Explanation, study, application and dialogues on some other kinds of movements and concepts for performing accents.

ACCIACCATURAS

-         Study of simple (flams) and double (drags) acciaccaturas and related exercises on:

­         Acciaccaturas and runs

­         Accents and not

­         Onomatopoeic cantability

­         Application on some basic international exercises, or snare-drum-only tunes

Explanation, study, application and dialogues on some other kinds of systems and concepts for executing acciaccaturas.

ROLLS

-         Study of numbered strokes rolls (mainly used)

-         Some interpretations on rolls with:

-         accento (sul primo colpo e non…)

-         “accento di portamento” (sull’ultimo colpo e non…)

-         Accent (on the first stroke and not)

-         “Portamento accent” (on the last stroke and not…)

-         From binary to ternary (square, round…)

-         Wide and narrow “pressed” mode

-         “Smeared” mode

-         Simple acciaccatura (flam)

-         Double acciaccatura (drag)

-         Various dynamics  

-         …briefly: “shifts” of rolls inside the bar (unusual writing) 

Explanation, study, application and dialogues on some other kinds of concepts on rolls.

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LOWER LIMBS STUDY

SETTING ON PEDALS

(The concepts of light physical exercises for the upper limbs are also valid…)

Bass-drum

And related exercises among which:

-         Plant System

-         Heel concept and basic exercises to study this

-         Principal Fulcrum among which:

·        Elliptical Zone concept

·        Going concept

·        Return concept

·        Going and return concept

·        Weight on hammer concept

-         Tip System:

-         Tip concept and basic exercises to study this

-         fulcrum among which:

·        Pedal’s barycentre concept

·        Fulcrum at heel concept (raised little and/or much)

-         Leg System:

-         Fulcrum at thigh concept, very useful for high and very high volumes  

-         dynamics

Explanation, study, application and dialogues on some other kinds of settings and concepts for foot, pedal and bass-drum.

Hi-hat

and related exercises among with:

-         Plant System:

-         Tip concept with leaned heel used as fulcrum at return and basic exercises to study this condition among which:

·        “Passive Fulcrum” concept

·        “Median Pin” concept

·        Concepts on sharp stroke

·        Concepts on closed soft stroke

·        Concepts on open stroke (little and/or much open)

-         Tip System:

-         Tip concept with little and/or much raised heel and basic exercises to study this condition among which:

·        Same concepts as with leaned heel

·        Concept of alternate opening/closure only with foot (not heel-tip)

·        dynamics

Explanation, study, application and dialogues on some other kinds of settings and concepts for hi-hat.

Double bass-drum or double pedal

All the indication about setting of “Foot, pedal and bass-drum” are valid also for “Double bass-drum or double pedal”, and also:

-         Standard concepts for study and application of this condition

-         Some exercises to develop the basic technique.

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INDEPENDENCE AND COORDINATION

-         Difference between Coordination and Independence

-         Differentiation of the various conceptions and levels of the Independence   

Hands

-         “physical” and “conceptual” setting on the drum

-         Application of some concepts and study systems on upper limbs in the basic exercises

-         Study of “interval of weights” between hands on the basic exercises

-         Concepts and systems to increase performance speed

-         Concepts and systems to reaching “independence of execution” and related exercises among which the ones with:

-         Accents

-         “Portamento accents”

-         different sound’s weights and colours

-         dynamics

Explanation, study, application and dialogues on some other kinds of concepts and systems on hands independence and coordination.

All the four limbs

-         “physical” and “conceptual” setting on drum

-         Application of some concepts and study systems on lower limbs with upper limbs

-         Study of “interval of weights” between the four limbs on the basic exercises

-         Concepts and systems to increase performance speed

-         Concepts and systems to reach “Independence of execution” and related exercises among which the ones with:

-         Accents

-         “Portamento accents”

-    different sound’s weights and colours

-    dynamics

Explanation, study, application and dialogues on some other kinds of concepts and systems on limbs independence and coordination.

JAZZ INDEPENDENCE

Cymbal and cymbal + hi-hat

-         Basic “physical” and “conceptual” setting and posture on ride cymbal

-         Basic exercises also with application of some concepts and systems of upper limbs study

-         Basic synchronization of cymbal + hi-hat

-         Study of basic rhythmic figurations of SWING with various exercises among which:

-         Basic rhythmic schemes 

-    NEW CANTABILITY FOR SWING

-         “Movement for the swing” concept

-         “Movement for accents” concept, applied to “movement for the swing” concept

-         Dynamics of the various strokes inside the schemes

-         Some postures to develop

-         “Singing” of cymbal…

-         “sound” of wrist…

-         Basic hi-hat insertion

-         Other fulcra and movements for swing cymbal

-         Study on various dynamics of swing strokes

-         Study on rising the speed of basic swing execution with some tricks

Explanation, study, application and dialogues on some other kinds of systems and concepts for cymbal, cymbal + hi-hat and swing study.

Cymbal, hi-hat and snare drum

Various exercises among which:

-         Independence along with various types of subdivision among the three limbs, each having his own basic peculiarity

-         Introduction of rhythmic figures also with accent on snare drum and some “constants” on cymbal

-         Didactic solos and not, with various kinds of subdivision

-         Study of various dynamics and sonorities on the same rhythm

-         Rising of the execution speed

Explanation, study, application and dialogues on some other kinds of systems and concepts on this topic.

Cymbal, hi-hat, snare drum and bass drum

Various exercises among which: 

-         Independence along with various types of subdivision among the four limbs, each having his own basic peculiarity

-         Introduction of rhythmic figures also with accent on snare drum and on bass drum with various “constants” on cymbal

-         Didactic solos and not, on various kinds of subdivisions also for hi-hat

-         Study of various dynamics and sonority on the same rhythm

-         Introduction of simple (flams) and double (drags) acciaccaturas, “pressed” rolls, etc…

-         Rising the execution speed

All the jazz independence includes also precise study and application of exercises and concepts of Enrico Lucchini’s method among with:

-         Classic movements on basic rhythmic figurations and not, to develop phrasing on drum

-         Etc…

Explanation, study, application and dialogues on some other kinds of systems and concepts on this topic.

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BRUSHES

-         Handling

-         Fulcra position

-         Basic concepts

Explanation, study, application and dialogues on some other kinds of systems and concepts on this topic.

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RHYTHMS AND STYLES

Study of basic rhythms and independence on various styles among which:

-         Rock

-         Funky

-         Funky-rock

-         Jazz-rock

-         Latin

-         Latin-jazz

-         Afro-jazz

-         Pop

-         Concepts and sonorities for rhythms in dance orchestra

-         Various more…

Explanation, study, application and dialogues on some other kinds of concepts and rhythms interpretations in music. 

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SOUND PHILOSOPHIES OF CRASH CYMBAL AND SIMILARS

-         Explanation, study, application and dialogues on these topics with various concepts, systems and interpretations on the various cymbals

-         Are also avail some discussions’ points on VARIOUS TOPICS.

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WARM-UP EXERCISES

-      some limbs’s warm-up exercises

-      some hands’s warm-up exercises

Explanation, study, application and dialogues on some other kinds of systems and concepts on this topic.

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RHYTHMIC SOLFEGGIO       

-         Elementary notions of music theory

-         International classic movements for solfeggio and related exercises among which:

-         Using or not the Metronome in the solfeggio and various utilization ways

-         Hand setting

-         Schemes of scholastic movements and not

-         Movements schemes interpretation in the various tempos

-         Study of diaphragmatic (and not) respiration and application into solfeggio

-         “Incorporation” of rhythmic subdivision

-         Rhythmic subdivisions’ interpretations also on drum

-         Application and interpretation of rhythmic solfeggio on drum

-         Rhythmic dictation

-         General coordination of all the above mentioned points and various kinds of exercises to apply this general control

-         Reading and interpretations on various styles of scores

-         Introduction (in case) to spoken solfeggio (with notes)

-         Rhythmic interpretations on melodies…

Explanation, study, application and dialogues on some other kinds of concepts, systems and interpretations on rhythmic solfeggio and/or scores.

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VARIOUS TOPICS

-    What is the GROOVE (And how to reach it) (…. hints taken from Aiello’s Stage)

-         Rhythm Psychology (from Massimo Aiello's Stage) 

-     ....metronomely  poetic....

-    The aim/purpose of a lesson

-         Rhythmic ensemble for the interpretation of rhythm subdivision

-         Music ensemble for the interpretation of rhythm subdivision (on rhythm, melody and harmony)

-         Music listening guide prevalently for the interpretation

-         Music contemplation… in the silent, in the study and the music playing

-         Development of representation’s capacity, of music temperament especially, etc….

-         Discussions and valuations of the existing (or not) didactic organizations in the music schools and/or in the individual courses generally

-         Music conscience of the student and/or the musician

-         Structure identity of the music

-         “Music forms” and/or “DNA of music forms”

-         Ethic: discussions on the importance of personal ethic-musical choice (authentic and directed to a continuous cultural and social exchange) either in the study or in the way to do music, necessary to a 360° wide-open soul and to be able to grasp and exchange the most sounds’ “musical things” (and not only)…

-         Volumes and sound colours’ medley into the various contests related to the drum kind, the ambient, the amplification (existent or not) etc… with explanation, study, application and dialogues on various concepts, systems and interpretations on these topics

-         Studio recording: explanation, study, application and dialogues on various concepts, systems and interpretations

-         The music chamber bands, the folk chamber bands, the marching band and similar in Italy and abroad.…

-     mentions about marching

-     Colors effects (real or imaginary lights on ....) playing and / or listening to music

-     What / how many colors and on what songs ....?

-         Various more….

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*    *    *

METHODS  

Massimo Aiello:

Enrico Lucchini:

Concepts, exercises, manuscripts, etc…

Jim Chapin:

Jazz Independence vol.1

John Riley:

-         “The art of drumming”

-         “The art of the be-bop”

Tullio de Piscopo:

“Metodo per batteria vol 1 and 2” and manuscripts.

Exercises, concepts, summaries and elaborations from drum methods of:

-         Gary  Chaffee

-         Gary Chester

-         Dante Agostini

-         Gene Krupa

-         And many others....

Massimo Aiello

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Teaching Program’s topics are under International Copyright because they are integrant part of the Book-Method

"THE COMPLETE DRUMS' METHOD"

Copyright & Printed 2006 by Massimo Aiello

* (Ex “Corso Sperimentale di Orientamento allo Studio della Batteria" (Experimental Course of Drums Study Orientation) - Copyright 1997 by Massimo Aiello

and ex "Corso Orientativo per Batteria" (Orientative Drum Course) - Copyright 2002 by Massimo Aiello) 

and from other didactic material wich is in use or experimental phase in his drum course; 

all this material is in elaboration and will be eventually released.